Reston grandma fired fighting for pay re-hired

A Northern Virginia grandmother fired while fighting for higher pay now has her job back.

Author:
Pete Muntean

Published:
11:02 PM EST November 29, 2017

Updated:
11:39 PM EST November 29, 2017

A Northern Virginia grandmother fired while fighting for higher pay now has her job back.

WUSA9 first spoke to Swartha Tujare, 67, in July after she suddenly lost her job as a wheelchair attendant at Dulles International Airport. Huntliegh Corporation, an airport contractor, fired Tujare after she took part in a strike for higher wages last December. The job pays $6.15 per hour plus tips.

“I prayed every day,” said Tujare, who could not find work for five months.

In a just-released settlement, Huntleigh Corporation agreed to give Tujare her job back plus more than $4,000 in lost wages and benefits.

“I’m very happy,” said Tujare, who immigrated to the United States from India about 15 years ago.

Huntleigh, according to settlement documents, has also agreed to delete the firing from its records and not hold it against Tujare. Company representatives could not be reached for comment Wednesday.

The settlement concludes a months-long fight by the Service Employees International Union Local 32BJ. The National Labor Relations Board, an independent federal agency, charged Huntliegh Corporation in July after it said Tujare attended a lawful strike.